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Show The National Enterprise , July 21, 1976 Page three Fighting Fires For Profit Scottsdale, Arizona "We doesnt have a fire depart- ment. No, building codes are not so strict that the entire city is fireproof, nor are its citizens above occasional arson. The city bureaucracy has simply eliminated a city fire department. Instead, they contract with a private firm. Rural Metro, to provide the city with all the fire protection they need. Said George Britton, as- sistant to the city manager. simply prefer to have private business do what private business does best." And that means not only providing service beyond reproach, but making a profit as well. The profit motive provides strong incentive to be efficient, or something most local, state, and federal agencies have lost all sight of. But can you blame them? As tempting as a big red cost-effecti- gardless of performance, the civil service personnel mentality, and bureaucratic devotion to burgeoning budgets and armies of employees as a measure of status relative to other agencies. Private industry, on the other hand, must either keep close watch on the P&L statement or go out of business. Its as simple as that. ve largest expense of any fire department. In Salt Lake City, (pop. 180,000) salaries for a force of 355 for the fiscal year ended June 30 amounted to $3,813,01 1 of a total allocation of $4,032,903. The salary of a first grade fire fighter is $1,100 per month. With current squabbles nationwide over salary increases, youd think erupting According to Britton, "The taxpayer gets four times For the bang for his buck. the 1974-7- 5 year, Scottsdales to amounted contract $498,355. Other fire related to amounted expenses $142,322 for a total of $640,677. Thats $6.67 per capita compared to the national average of $24.39 for a population of 90,000. (Salt Lake's per capita losses more municipalities would be looking at private enterprise amounted to $14.37 in 1975.) The city is content with a as an alternative to the tradiPersonnel measure the tional tax funded fire departfire rating of 5 from Insurance Services Office (ISO), a non ment. Rural 'Metros record is profit organization which impressive and, of course. serves the insurance industry. Scottsdale is impressed with Based on a high of 1. ISO the service. Since 1952, when grades communities on water Chief Lou Witzcman sold the supply, fire department, fire alarm system, structural conyoung community on the revolutionary idea, the company ditions, etc. Britton explained process alone that carried has added more than two its a trade off between spendPermaloy through an (overdozen other contracts. Voling additional tax dollars to subscribed) public offering in ume since 1970 has grown improve the rating in order to January 1971. from $650,000 to $3 million. Continued on page ten Since then, the company has patented an aluminum hard coat process and is in JUST PUBLISHED patent pending status on a Personnel Expenses apple, they've got ready access to tax revenues, re Beleaguered Permaloy Battles to Keep Its Head Above Board OGDEN, Utah Jimmy Carter couldnt find it in his heart to visit Utah in a campaign trip but his election committee has chosen a Utah firm to manufacture belt buckles for the pre-conventi- on dent Harry James wouldnt say whether the souvenir sports the famous Carter pearls, but assured us, Theyll be collectors items." The Permaloy process used to photochemically etch an image into specially hardened and colored aluminum has shipped already an order alloys has been used in other of 100 buckles to Carters novelty items but is used more national campaign manager extensively in architectural with the possibility of receiv- signing, memorials, scenic ing a contract for 20,000-30,00- 0 markers, indoor and outdoor more. Permaloy presi- - exhibits, etc. It was this Democratic candidates promotion. Permaloy (OTC .005, .01) steel corrosion proofing process. Permaloy lists among its clients Bank of America. U.S. Dept, of Interior, U.S. Air Force, Forest Service, San Diego Zoo, Utah State Dept, of Highways, and Pacific Chromalox (a division of Emerson Electric). But things arent really going all that smoothly, James admits, and the going has been rough. "Were just getting to the point now' where people are interested enough to test some of our things to two weeks, she said. Weve Roller ex- prove were right. Meanwhile, been right all along but pects to generate an immed- weve never proven it." iate cash flow, something Chrysler Corporation, at which is nonexistant at presis analyzing both the ent, by the manufacture of the present, hard coat and steel corrosion strobe pulse light. The protoB.F. proofing process. type, which she passed around Goodrich is testing the hard at the meeting, can be manucoat on wheels of DC-1- 0 factured at a cost of about aircraft and the brake pistons S6.95, she said. The light is of both commercial and miliused primarily as emergency of the INVESTING IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST. saj-vy- w ... NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME. A DEFINITIVE BOOK THAT ANALYZES EXCITING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DYNAMIC, RESOURCE-RICSEVEN STATE REGION OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (INCLUDING ALASKA). H ABOUT THE AUTHORS. INVESTING Ametex Gets Infusion of New Blood, Leases SALT LAKE City-Shareh- olders of Ametex Corporation (OTC .625, 1 .00) have agreed to give 10 million shares of the companys stock to Jean Roller in exchange for her interest in approximately 320 acres of coal properties in Socorro, New Mexico and rights to manufacture a pulse strobe light. Voting at a recent meeting, shareholders amended the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares from 5 million to 20 million in order to accomodate the transaction. Roller, her son, Michael S. Roller and J. Pearce Gannon were elected to serve as directors of the company with Mrs. Roller assuming the role of both chairman of the Board and - tary planes. Testing hard coat on rotary and piston engines is in the experimental stages at Outboard Marine. Short of funds all along, James says is the root of Permaloys problems. The company is Continued on page ten lighting. Operating without a gas neon filament, but an electrical interrupter, Ametex can sell the light at substantially lower costs. A Denver group has already voiced interest in marketing the light. under-capitalizati- on IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST is a new approach to Investment guidance, bringing together In 320 entertaining and readable pages information Indispensible to any businessman Interested in this region. Discusses over 200 public companies With over 2 billion shares of stock Over $30 billion annual sales 'Paying over $1 billion annual dividends and interest SHANNON F. PRATT to Edbor of caiimmd on Nertharaal t locognlnd mtraaUng and aapart on cotparaia Ho hetda a doctor m bom Indian UrUvarsrty, to Choitorod Financial Analyat and a CortHtod Financial Pknnsr, and wa director of too Invoalmanf Anatyai Cantor al Portland Stato U. "A moal unnaual book. A Irak breaking effort artth Important malarial tor aconomlc aophlatlcataa aa am aa amateur Inuaatoro- .- Rabat! Land-aua- r. 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RETURN BOOK WITHIN 30 DAYS FOR A REFUND Offering components for complete SOLAR ENERGY HOMES DISTRIBUTION cur- rently underway, she said, with several companies to work out a joint venture agreement for development of the properties. She expects to make an announcement within CENTERS NEEDED FOR ill 1 imjai 1 Hs3D dft SHED ift0) Swimming Pool Heating Systems Home Heating Systems Water Purification Systems eSQMIR) I 50 President of Negotiations are IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST:" Ametex. She explained that the coal leases coming into the company are especially valuable in that they are close to the Texas market and within close proximity to various rail spurs. In addition, she said, the coal is of both steam and metallurgical values and can be mined by surface as well as deep mining. Know n reserves in the Socorro area total approximately one billion tons. I Ufi&IGP iGSH0 62188 u I I I |